Hospice of Santa Barbara is pleased to announce Nelson Hayashida as their new Spiritual Care Counselor. Hayashida brings with him an array of spiritual care experience including chaplaincy, counseling, teaching and advising, and experience working with spiritual care within a global and cross-cultural context.

Prior to beginning his new role at Hospice of Santa Barbara, Hayashida served as Volunteer Pastoral Care Counselor at Mount Nittany Medical Center at State College in Pennsylvania and completed a one year residency in Clinical Pastoral Education at Albert Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia. Hayashida also completed a one year residency in Clinical Pastoral Education at Stanford University Medical Center/VA Palo Alto Health Care System in California.

Born in Hawaii and raised in East Los Angeles and Torrance, Hayashida holds a PhD in Anthropology of Religion from the University of Edinburgh in Scotland, a PhD in Women and Leadership from the University of South Africa, and an MA in Zen Buddhist ‘Satori’ from Baylor University in Texas. He also holds degrees in both Ministry and Divinity.

Hayashida has clinical training in hospice care, long term nursing, palliative care, PTSD, oncology, neuroscience, brain injury, ICU, Emergency Room and other hospital units, and has a range of professional work experience both within the United States, as well as in Zambia, South Africa and Thailand.

As a member of Hospice of Santa Barbara’s Spiritual Care Program, Hayashida will address the spiritual needs of Hospice of Santa Barbara patients and their loved ones.

Hospice of Santa Barbara is a nonprofit organization that “volunteers” its free professional counseling and care management services to children and adults who are experiencing the impact of a life-threatening illness, or grieving the death of a loved one. Hospice of Santa Barbara is also present on area school campuses to work with children and teens who are grieving the loss of a loved one.

For more information about Hospice of Santa Barbara, including volunteer opportunities, call (805) 563-8820 or visit www.hospiceofsantabarbara.org. Find Hospice of Santa Barbara on Facebook and Twitter.

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California does not require licensing for volunteer hospices, so long as neither a charge is made for its services, nor is skilled nursing provided. The State Attorney General monitors operations.

Hospice of Santa Barbara

Compassionate Care, Freely Given

Hospice of Santa Barbara offesr free counseling, support groups, resources and community education meeting the emotional, social and spiritual needs of people facing or grieving the death of a loved one.